diff --git a/include/tao/pq/pipeline.hpp b/include/tao/pq/pipeline.hpp
index 32c509f..98f1bc9 100644
--- a/include/tao/pq/pipeline.hpp
+++ b/include/tao/pq/pipeline.hpp
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ namespace tao::pq
    public:
       explicit pipeline( const std::shared_ptr< pq::connection >& connection );
 
-   public:
       ~pipeline() override
       {
          try {
diff --git a/src/lib/pq/pipeline.cpp b/src/lib/pq/pipeline.cpp
index 5ea69c0..fc6c9cc 100644
--- a/src/lib/pq/pipeline.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/pq/pipeline.cpp
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ namespace tao::pq
    void pipeline::finish()
    {
       if( m_previous ) {
-         m_previous->connection()->exit_pipeline_mode();
          current_transaction() = m_previous.get();
-         m_previous.reset();
+         const auto extend_lifetime = std::move( m_previous );
+         connection()->exit_pipeline_mode();
       }
    }